Beautiful Autumn Afternoon

Months of sporting practices in the evenings have left our home covered in a layer of dust. Laundry needs done, floors need mopped and bathrooms cleaned. Today was a perfect day to do all of these chores. We came home from Maddie's morning soccer game and started to clean and then....we looked outside and noticed the beautiful day. Like little children escaping school, we ran to the car, piled in and headed off into the gorgeous Autumn day to play the afternoon away at Mountasia with friends. I once again reminded myself that when my children grew up that what they would remember are the times that we did this and not that there home was perfectly clean.

Off we go

Off we go

into the wild blue yonder,

Climbing high into the sun;

Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,

At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)*

Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,

Off with one helluva roar!**

We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!***

Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

What an absolutely beautiful weekend for the 2010 Wings over Atlanta Air Show at Dobbins Reserve Air Base. Abby and I couldn't go because of a last minute cheer practice but Bud and Maddie and Destiny and our friends, the Harris and Eady's went and had an absolutely wonderful time.

Maddie in the command seat of a C-130

Flight Engineer Harris (not sure if it is Flight Engineer Michael or Brandon?)

Maddie in the safety harness in the back of the C-130

Happy Birthday!

The years Bud and I have been together have been filled with high high's and low low's but I can't imagine anyone else that I would rather have by my side.

Together we have built an incredible family. I look at all of them and my heart swells. We may not have everything that other's have but what we have is priceless. We have each other!

Happy Birthday to my best friend! I love you.

Update- Bud and I, coming from divorced families, haven't had handed down to us those special traditions that families generally have. We have created our own over the years. I found this hat in a store while I was in Branson, Missouri and Bud was the first to wear it in our new tradition. Birthday person has to wear the birthday hat! But they don't have to wear it in public.

Geocaching

Bud introduced the girls and I to a new hobby these past few weeks-geocaching. What is it you say?

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

We went out on Father's Day afternoon even though it was very, very, very warm and searched for a geocache in the local park. Maddie found it after a short search in the woods. Geocaches very often are found in small boxes. Inside you will find a logbook to log your entry that you were there and also small treasures that other's have left behind. The idea is that you leave something and then take something. We brought a small plastic frog to leave and took a key with us. I had to admit to Bud that I really didn't think it would be that fun but it was!. It is also a great way to get the girls to follow directions. I am thankful that they have a Dad who believes in teaching them all sorts of useful life skills.

Daddy Daughter Date

First...

there were pictures on the escalier (fancy french word for flight of steps)

Then....

There was a limo ride to their favorite restaurant

Where .....

They were served by friendly wait staff

At a table with beautiful flowers

All in all, a perfect date night with Daddy!

I found this song and had to play it. My stepmother told me that after this song came out my dad would stop whenever he heard it and get a distant look in his eyes. She would always ask him "You're thinking of Kathy aren't you?" And he would nod his head yes. I miss him so much and I am glad that my girls have their Daddy. I hope they always know how much he loves them.

The Perfect Vacation

I love vacations. I live for vacations. I start planning the next vacation as I am winding up the current vacation.

The truth is though that I am often disappointed by vacation.

I have it built up in my mind of how it will be, where we will go, what we will see and do and eat. And when it doesn't occur the way I think that it should, I am disappointed.

That said, we just returned from the best vacation ever to the beach.

It was the perfect vacation because quite simply, I put no expectations on this trip. I didn't plan our days, I didn't decide on an itinerary or what "we absolutely had to do."

We went to the beach and we went with the flow. We slept in late, we ate in and out as the mood struck us, we read books on the beach, played in the waves, swam in the pool, we cuddled on the lounge chairs on our balcony and listened to the sounds of the ocean, we strolled through Seaside. It was wonderful and I am dreaming of when we can go back.

The girls enjoying our heated pool

Sunset over the gulf

Destiny and her boogie board

I love my beach umbrella!

The girl's sandcastles

Abby and the turtle she rescued from the road at St. Andrews State Park.

Pineapple Willie's.

Clowning around

Destiny doing diligence to her schoolwork even on the beach

Abby loved boogie boarding more than anyone else and did it even on the coldest day there

Love watching the sun go down

Sunset at Seaside

They look more and more alike all the time

Sisters

Seaside Post Office

Sharing shaved ice at the beach

My last morning in P.C before I left for D.C.

Dad won $50.00 for his hole in one at mini golf

Dancing with Daddy

The little girl's Girl Scout Unit sponsored a Father Daughter Dance at the local school several weeks ago. Maddie's Daisy troop and Abby's Girl Scout troop both particpated and they were happy to be escorted to the dance this year by their first love, their Daddy.

The theme of this year's dance was "Western" so off I headed to buy plaid shirts and boots. I didn't do so well on finding boots for the girls but I did find very cute plaid shirts for the girls and a shirt for Dad that matched.

Pre-Dance as they headed out to have dinner with Daddy prior to the dance

Maddie Grace

Daddy and Maddie

Abby and Daddy dancing. Abby's eyes were red because they were dancing to Butterfly Kisses which always makes her cry. It's what my Dad and I danced to at my wedding.

Having a great time. One of the other dad's told me later that Bud could really dance. Who knew he had it in him?

The girls with their friends M.K and E and their Dad, a very good friend of ours.

Disco Sister's. I don't think Maddie was quite as into it as her sister

Abby